Tony Abbott OK to speak at anti-abortion event in US: Turnbull

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has defended Tony Abbott's decision to speak in front of an ultra-conservative US Christian lobby group that opposes abortion and homosexuality.

Mr Turnbull said his predecessor was entitled to speak at any function he wished and he would not attempt to censor the former Liberal leader, who will address the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) in New York this week.

"He does have fairly a conservative position on issues like that, so he probably would find he's talking to people with similar views, perhaps," Mr Turnbull told Network Ten's The Project on Tuesday.

"He is entitled to speak to such audiences as he wishes.

"There are people in the parliament, colleagues, fellow members of the coalition, who have different views and they are entitled to express them - and I respect their right to do so, just as they would respect my right to disagree with them."

The ADF has actively spoken out against same-sex marriage and is campaigning against the right to abortions in the US.

Cabinet minister Greg Hunt also backed Mr Abbott's right to speak at the event, telling ABC radio "everybody is entitled to their views".